My airline still publishes a monthly inflight magazine, found in your seat-back pocket. Doesn’t that seem like a relic from a more glamorous past? Every month, this complimentary magazine features a new destination “in three-perfect days.” That’s great, but who has three days?
Recently, some friends asked me to help show their out-of-town guest around the city. I said, “Sure! But you know I like pretty, right?” So, in this blog, I offer you one perfect (pretty) day in San Francisco.
My friends rented a minivan (to accommodate all 7 of us) and picked me up early. As the tour guide and navigator, I got to sit shotgun! Our first stop was The Sutro Baths and Lands End.
The Sutro Baths are ruins at the end of Ocean Beach. Formerly, these were indoor, ocean-side, public pools opened in 1894 by millionaire, Adolf Sutro. In its heyday, it was a massive glass enclosure containing 7 pools, slides, trapeze, springboards, and a high dive. The Pacific Ocean provided the 1.7 million gallons of water needed to fill the pools. The structure could accommodate 10,000 people and kept 20,000 bathing suits and 40,000 towels on hand to rent to visitors. One frequent visitor was my grandmother. I think that’s why this place is so alluring to me. I don’t just see ruins; I see my grandma, Pauline, as a little girl swimming around in her rented suit.
Snaking up and around the hill from the baths, you’ll find a great urban hike: Lands End. This is a coastal trail leading to a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge and ending (in about 1.5 miles) in an exclusive neighborhood (Sea Cliff) near China Beach. We didn’t have the time or energy for the entire trip. But I recommend it for another time. Incidentally: 1) My rich uncle used to live in Sea Cliff in his mansion across the street from Robin Williams’ mansion. 2) China Beach used to be a nude beach, but sadly, it no longer appears to be.
From there, we piled back into the minivan and headed over to The Palace of Fine Arts. This stunning structure was initially built for a world’s fair in 1915. But because it was so beautiful, thankfully, it was saved from demolition. Now, you can rent the space for your wedding. Or you can just take your wedding pictures there. Or your prom pictures. Or your quinceanera pictures.
It’s a great backdrop.
By the way, The Palace of Fine Arts is next door to the Exploratorium: a world-class children’s museum of science and wonder. We didn’t visit it on our tour, but I highly recommend this interactive museum for young travelers. In fact, perhaps I’ll write a future blog: Exploring San Francisco with kids. Maybe coming soon.
After learning that our out-of-town visitor loved the movie, The Princess Diaries, we made a detour. Our next stop was a private residence used, in the film, as Anne Hathaway’s school. This was in yet another posh (and steep) neighborhood near The Lyon Street Steps.
After all this physical activity, my tour group was tired, starving, and starting to snack. But… I had to sneak in one more stop before lunch. I knew my girlfriend’s son wanted to drive down Lombard Street: the most crooked street in America. I also knew that he thought this tour sucked. It’s hard to please 6 people, ranging in ages! But I had to give him something and try and win him back.
Lombard Street is so steep they had to build switchbacks to make it accessible to cars.
Okay, time for lunch!
There are countless options in this food-loving city. But this stop was for Dad: our driver and host who funded this excursion and paid for EVERYTHING! And I have to say, he chose well. We ate in San Francisco’s Italian neighborhood: North Beach. The restaurant, Original Joe’s, is a local and family favorite. We didn’t have reservations -a party of 7 -on a Sunday. As the tour guide, I had overlooked this detail. But, karma was on our side, and we were seated right away.
After filling up on pasta and bread, we headed over to Caffe Greco for Cannolis (and an anise cookie).
From there, we walked over to Chinatown, which borders the Italian neighborhood.
I do love this part of town. I guess this stop was for me.
Next, we decided to double back and go to Fort Point before it closed in 38 minutes. This is inside the Presidio (former military post), literally at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it into the fort. I think everyone would have enjoyed that, including my friend’s two youngest sons. Oh well, you can only do so much in one day.
And it’s always a good idea to leave wanting more.
A short drive brought us to Baker Beach and yet another gorgeous view of The Golden Gate Bridge.
By then, my group was cold and tired. Obviously, a cable car ride up and down Nob Hill was off the table. But, I knew we had one stop left in us. One last pretty view on our way out of town.
We stopped by Alamo Square at sunset, where San Francisco’s Victorian architecture was on full display.
Obviously, there is SO much more to the city. Our day was concentrated in one area. (one very pretty area) But, there is also the wharf, the Bay Bridge, other parks like Golden Gate Park and Dolores Park, other neighborhoods like Haight Ashbury, and the Mexican neighborhood in the Mission, and the gay neighborhood in the Castro. There are three cable car lines, Alcatraz, the Giants’ stadium, and Golden State’s arena. Not to mention the symphony, the ballet, the zoo. And the restaurants!
I guess we really could have used three perfect days.
By the way, here’s Fort Point from the inside. (what we missed) And a preview of my future blog: Exploring San Francisco with Kids
Well done. I felt like I was apart of your journey. 😉
San Francisco is so beautiful and has remained that way for generations. It looks almost the same as when I was a kid visiting my uncles who lived there at the time.
People didn’t take vacations often during those days like they do now. So our family would go to San Francisco often to go to Flyshacker Zoo, Playland AtThe Beach, Chinatown, The Presidio,, etc. etc. etc.
Happy memories!
Thank you for the tour!!!